Denver took the weekly awards for the ninth week of Big 12 Gymnastics. The Pioneers’ Lynnzee Brown garnered her first Gymnast of the Week accolade this season along with teammate Alexandria Ruiz earning her first Event Specialist weekly honor while Mila Brusch claims her second Newcomer of the Week recognition.
Brown registered the highest all-around score in the Big 12 last week, totaling 39.725 when Denver hosted Towson. The graduate student recorded a 9.875 on vault before receiving a 9.900 on the uneven bars. She posted a career-high 9.950 on the balance beam to help Denver tie its program record 49.650 event score. In her fourth appearance on floor in 2023, Brown marked her first 10. 0 since her second Achilles injury last season. Her performance in the floor exercise helped Denver score a program-best 49.825 in the event, a first since the 2003 season. The Raytown, Missouri native now has posted five perfect 10s in her career, which includes three on floor. Brown has nine total career Big 12 Gymnastics weekly awards, which includes seven Gymnast of the Week honors.
Ruiz posted a career-high 9.950 on the uneven bars to take the title in the event. It was the first time in her career that she hit a 9.950 in any event and it helped Denver record its second-highest bars score of 49.600 in program history. The graduate student also registered a season-best 9.900 on floor. This is the second career weekly award for Ruiz and the first since she was named Newcomer of the Week in 2019.
Brusch served as the lead-off for Denver’s vault lineup that registered a score of 49.075 in the event. The freshman posted a 9.850 which was 0.025 points away from her career high. Her score contributed to DU’s victory over Towson 198.150-195.950. It was the first time the program eclipsed the 198+ point mark since 2004.
Big 12 Gymnastics Gymnasts of the Week:
Jan. 10 – Jordan Bowers, Oklahoma
Jan. 17 – Rosie Casali, Denver
Jan. 24 – Danielle Sievers, Oklahoma
Jan. 31 – Jordan Bowers, Oklahoma
Feb. 7 – Danielle Sievers, Oklahoma
Feb. 14 – Jordan Bowers, Oklahoma
Feb. 21 – Rylie Mundell, Denver
Feb. 28 – Jordan Bowers, Oklahoma
Mar. 7 – Lynnzee Brown, Denver
Event Specialist of the Week:
Jan. 10 – Ava Siegfeldt, Oklahoma
Jan. 17 – Katherine LeVasseur, Oklahoma
Jan. 24 – Allie Stern, Oklahoma
Jan. 31 – Olivia Trautman, Oklahoma
Feb. 7 – Danae Fletcher, Oklahoma
Feb. 14 – Momoko Iwai, Denver
Feb. 21 – Ellen Collins, West Virginia
Feb. 28 – Katherine LeVasseur, Oklahoma
Mar. 7 – Alexandria Ruiz, Denver
Newcomer of the Week:
Jan. 10 – Faith Torrez, Oklahoma
Jan. 17 – Mila Brusch, Denver
Jan. 24 – Faith Torrez, Oklahoma
Jan. 31 – Kiley Rorich, Denver
Feb. 7 – Faith Torrez, Oklahoma
Feb. 14 – Faith Torrez, Oklahoma
Feb. 21 – Faith Torrez, Oklahoma
Feb. 28 – Faith Torrez, Oklahoma
Mar. 7 – Mila Brusch, Denver